Rope tension gauge for elevator system

ABSTRACT

A hoist rope tension gauge for an elevator system, including an elevator car, a counterweight, and a plurality of hoist ropes suspending said elevator car and counterweight, wherein said rope tension gauge is connected to one of said hoist ropes and is operative to measure the rope tension force in said hoist rope for comparison with the rope tension forces in the remaining hoist ropes for equalizing said forces, said rope tension gauge comprising an elongate bearing member having bearing portions disposed at opposite ends thereof for engaging opposite sides of spaced portions of said selected rope, a torque wrench connected to said bearing member at a portion intermediate said bearing member ends for applying a torque to said bearing member for transmission to said selected rope, an angle indicator mounted on said bearing member for measuring the angle of displacement of said selected rope caused by the torque transmitted to said selected rope, and means for measuring the amount of torque applied to said selected rope by said bearing member.

United States Patent Yasuda [54] ROPE TENSION GAUGE FOR ELEVATOR SYSTEM [72] Inventor: Kentaro Yasuda, Bergenfield, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Otis Elevator Company, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 865,048

[451 June 27, 1972 Primary Examiner-Charles A. Ruehl Attorney-Joseph L. Sharon and Thomas W. Kennedy [5 7] ABSTRACT A hoist rope tension gauge for an elevator system, including an elevator car, a counterweight, and a plurality of hoist ropes suspending said elevator car and counterweight, wherein said rope tension gauge is connected to one of said hoist ropes and is operative to measure the rope tension force in said hoist rope for comparison with the rope tension forces in the remaining hoist ropes for equalizing said forces, said rope tension gauge comprising an elongate bearing member having bearing portions disposed at opposite ends thereof for engaging opposite sides of spaced portions of said selected rope, a torque wrench connected to said bearing member at a portion intermediate said bearing member ends for applying a torque to said bearing member for transmission to said selected rope, an angle indicator mounted on said bearing member for measuring the angle of displacement of said selected rope caused by the torque transmitted to said selected rope, and means for measuring the amount of torque applied to said selected rope by said bearing member.

1 Claim, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJum I972 3.672.214

FIG. I2

INVENTOR KENTARO YASUDA BY 4%. A mg ATTORNEY ROPE TENSION GAUGE FOR ELEVATOR SYSTEM The present invention relates to rope tension gauges and particularly to a hoist rope tension gauge for an elevator system.

A conventional elevator system includes an elevator car, a counterweight and a plurality of hoist ropes, which suspend the car and the counterweight. The plurality of hoist ropes are supported by a drive sheave and an idler sheave which are disposed at the top of the hatchway. The elevator car and counterweight each has a rope hitch at the top thereof which is adjustably connected to the plurality of hoist ropes.

In the conventional rope hitch, the hoist ropes have respective thimble rods at the ends thereof which connect to a hitch plate fixed to the car or counterweight. The thimble rods extend through openings in the hitch plate. The thimble rods have respective bearing washers which bear against the hitch plate and have respective lock-type bearing nuts which respectively bear against the bearing washers. A conventional elevator rope hitch of this type is shown in 11.8. Pat. No. 2,2l4,l39, issued Sept. 10, I940.

One problem with the conventional rope hitch is the difficulty of equally distributing the load of the elevator car or counterweight over the group of hoist ropes by which it is suspended in order to equalize the rope tension forces in said hoist ropes. It is known that the rope tension forces are unequal after installation or after extended use thereof because of slight variations in the depth of the grooves in the drive sheave and idler sheave or because of slight variations in the stretch of the hoist ropes.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the hoist rope tension forces are equalized by providing a rope tension gauge which is operative to measure the rope tension force in each of the hoist ropes whereby an operator can compare the rope tension force in each rope with the rope tension forces in the remaining ropes and can individually adjust the rope tension force in each rope so that said rope tension forces are made substantially equal.

Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide an elevator system having a plurality of hoist ropes wherein the hoist rope tension forces are equal.

It is another object of the invention to provide an elevator system according to the aforementioned object wherein the hoist ropes have adjusting means for adjusting the hoist rope tension forces and have gauge means for measuring and comparing the hoist rope tension forces.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an elevator system according to the aforementioned objects wherein the hoist ropes have manually operated adjusting means and manually operated gauge means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator system according to the aforementioned objects having a torque-type gauge means.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tension gauge for a plurality of ropes under tension for comparing the tension force in a selected rope with the tension forces in the remaining ropes of the plurality of ropes for equalizing the rope tension forces in a plurality of hoist ropes suspending an elevator car of an elevator system comprising, an elongate bearing member having bearing portions disposed at opposite ends thereof for engaging opposite sides of spaced portions of said selected rope, a torque wrench connected to said bearing member at a portion intermediate said bearing member ends for applying a torque to said bearing member for transmission to said selected rope, an angle indicator mounted on said hearing member for measuring the angle of displacement of said selected rope caused by the torque transmitted to said selected rope, and means for measuring the amount of torque applied to said selected rope by said bearing member.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic elevation view of an elevator system having a hoist rope tension gauge unit embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4'is a sectional view as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view as taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view as taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view as taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a second embodiment of a hoist rope tension gauge unit corresponding to FIG. 6 and embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view as taken along the line 11-1 1 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view as taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention is an elevator system 10. Elevator system 10 includes an elevator car 11, a counterweight l2, and a plurality of hoist ropes 13, 14, 15, 16 which interconnect car 11 and counterweight 12. System 10 also includes a drive sheave 17 and an idler sheave 18, which support ropes l3, 14, 15, 16. System 10 also has a rope tension gauge 19, which is arranged for measuring a tension force 20 in rope l3 and for comparing the tension force 20 in rope 13 to the corresponding tension forces (not shown) in the adjacent hoist ropes 14, 15, 16. Car 11 has a vertical axis 21; and the centerlines of ropes 14, l5, 16 are parallel to axis 21. Car 11 also has a rope hitch 22, which is connected to ropes 13, 14, 15, 16. Counterweight 12 also has a similar rope hitch (not shown), which is similar in construction to rope hitch 22.

Rope hitch 22 is a frame member, which has a hitch plate and a crosshead beam that is fixedly connected to car 11. Hoist ropes 13, 14, 15, 16, which are identical in construction, have conventional, threaded thimble rods at the ends thereof which extend through openings in frame 22. Ropes 13, 14, I5, 16 have respective bearing washers 23, 24, 25, 26 on said rods which bear against hitch frame 22, and have respective locktype adjusting nuts 27, 28, 29, 30, which bear against respective washers 23, 24, 25, 26. By adjusting the position of the nut 27 relative to the rod of rope 13, the tension force 20 in the rope 13 can be increased or decreased. Similarly, tension forces (not shown) in ropes 14, l5, 16 can be similarly increased or decreased in order to equalize said forces. The tension forces in ropes 13, I4, 15, 16 can be compared by using tension gauge 19 to measure the forces. The tension forces can be equalized by successively adjusting the adjusting nuts 27, 28, 29, 30 while successively measuring and comparing the tension forces in ropes 13, 14, 15, 16 by the use of tension gauge 19.

According to the invention, tension gauge 19, which is arranged to compare and measure force 20 in rope 13, includes an elongated bearing member 40, such as an elongated plate member, a torque wrench 41, which is connected to plate member 40, and an angle indicator 42, which is mounted on plate member 40. Torque wrench 41 is operative to apply a couple or moment or torque 43 through plate 40 to rope 13. The portion of rope 13 which engages plate 40 has an inclined, longitudinal, centerline axis 44 and has a transverse, reference axis of rotation 45, which is disposed substantially at right angles to longitudinal rope axis 44. When torque 43 is applied to plate 40, rope 13 rotates about transverse axis 45, thereby causing a rope displacement angle or tilt angle 46 between rope centerline axis 44 and a plane including car axis 21 and the centerlines of ropes 14, 15, 16.

Plate 40, which has a profile of rectangular shape and which has a cross-section of rectangular shape, includes a rear face 47 and a front face 48, which are on opposite sides thereof. Rear face 47 has an upper bearing member or pin 49, which is disposed at the upper end thereof, and has a lower bearing member or pin 50, which is disposed at the lower end thereof for bearing against opposite sides of longitudinally spaced parts of hoist rope 13. Bearing pins 49, 50, which are preferably cylindrical pins, are fixedly connected at the inner ends thereof to rear face 47 and project outwardly therefrom. The length of the inclined portion of hoist rope 13 is indicated by reference dimension 51. The distance between the centers of pins 49, 50 is approximately equal to reference dimension 51. Also, the distance from transverse axis 45 to the center of each of the pins 49, 50 is approximately equal to onehalf of reference dimension 51. Reference dimension 51, which indicates the length of the inclined portion of hoist rope 13 is measured along the centerline of said inclined portion. Reference dimension 51 is measured between the points of angle change on the centerline of hoist rope 13, which points are respectively disposed adjacent to the centers of pins 49, 50.

Front face 48 has a handle 52, such as a bent bar handle, which is fixedly connected thereto for manually supporting plate 40. Front face 48 also has a wrench connection 53, such as a socket member, which is fixedly or integrally connected at one end thereof to front face 48 for connection to wrench 41. Front face 48 also has a mounting bar 54, which is fixedly or integrally connected thereto, for supporting angle indicator 42. Socket 53 (FIG. 7)' has a recess 55 which receives wrench Torque wrench 41, which is a conventional type of torque wrench, has a socket pin 56 at one end thereof, which fits into socket recess 55 for ease of assembly and disassembly thereof. Socket pin 56 and socket recess 55 each has a square shape in cross-section. Torque wrench 41 also has a wrench handle 57 or bearing portion, which is disposed at the outer end thereof whereby a person or operator can apply a bearing force thereto for applying torque 43 to wrench 41 for transmission of torque 43 to plate 40. Torque wrench 41 also has a torque indicator dial 58, which is disposed at an intermediate portion thereof and which indicates the amount of torque 43 that is transmitted by wrench 41 to plate 40.

Torque wrench 41 has a longitudinal wrench axis 59. Axis 59 is normally disposed in a normal unactuated position, which is approximately at right angles to a plane including rope axis 44 before torque 43 is applied to wrench 41. Wrench axis 59 moves through a torque angle 60 relative to its normal position when torque 43 is applied thereto. The size of torque angle 60 is proportional to the amount of torque 43. Thus, when torque 43 is applied to wrench 41, wrench axis 59 and rope centerline axis 44 rotate about transverse axis 45 through displacement angle 46, and in addition, wrench axis 59 also rotates through the additional torque angle 60. It is noted that wrench axis 59 is in a plane (FIG. 4) which is slightly offset from and parallel to a plane including the centerline of hoist rope 13. Because of this, the force on wrench handle 57, which causes torque 43, is applied in a plane which is slightly offset from and parallel to a plane including the centerline of hoist rope 13. However, the torque 43 is transmitted by plate 40 to rope 13 so that the full amount of torque 43, which is indicated on wrench dial 58, is transmitted to rope 13. It is noted that the operator, who holds plate handle 52, supports plate 40 and prevents any slight movement of plate 40 away from hoist rope 13.

Angle indicator 42 (FIG. 9) includes an inner body 61, which has an integral pivot shaft 62, and an outer body 63, which is pivotally connected to shaft 62 for angular displacement relative thereto. Indicator inner body 61, which has an axis of symmetry 64, has a face or dial 65, which is symmetrical about axis 64 and shaft 62. Inner body 61 is fixedly connected to mounting bar 54. Inner body 61 may have a magnetic base portion 66, and mounting bar 54 may be composed of a ferrous material for ease of connection therebetween.

Indicator outer body 63 has an integral pointer 67, which is disposed at the lower end thereof, and has a bubble or spirit level 68, which is fixedly mounted on the upper end thereof. Outer body 63 has an axis 69, which intersects shaft 62, which is disposed substantially at right angles to level 68 and which is an axis of symmetry of pointer 67. When bubble level 68 indicates that it is in a horizontal or level position, outer body axis 69 is then positioned in a vertical position and is substantially parallel to car axis 21 (FIG. 2). In this way, level 68 is arranged so that the angle is displacement 46 of rope 13a about axis 45 can be measured. Inner body axis 64 is approximately aligned with the axis of symmetry 70 of plate 40, but is not aligned with the rope centerline axis 44. Because inner body axis 64 is slightly inclined relative to the rope centerline axis 44 when axis 44 is vertical, the angle on indicator dial 65 is read both before and after applying torque 43. The difference between the two readings on dial 65 is used as the rope displacement angle 46. For example, in a test of one model of gauge 19, the initial reading was about l79.80 and the final reading was about l80.80 so that the displacement angle 46 was about l.000.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, a second embodiment of the present invention is an elevator system, which has a tension gauge 16a for engaging a hoist rope 13a. Parts of the second embodiment, which are like corresponding parts of the first embodiment, have the same numerals as the first embodiment, but with a subscript 0" added thereto.

Tension gauge includes an elongate plate member 40a, a torque wrench 41a, and an angle indicator 42a. Wrench 41a is operative to apply a torque 43a to plate 4011, which is transmitted to rope 13a. Rope 13a has an inclined longitudinal centerline axis 44a and a transverse reference axis of rotation 450. When torque 43a is applied to rope 13a, rope 13a rotates about transverse axis 45a thereby causing a displacement angle or tilt angle 460 between rope longitudinal centerline axis 44a and a plane including car axis 21a and the centerlines or ropes 14a, 15a, 16a. Plate 40a (FIG. 12) has a rear face 47a and a front face 480. Faces 47a, 480 have Z-shaped profiles, and plate 400 is Z-shaped in cross-section.

Rear face 47a has an upper bearing pin 49a and a lower bearing pin 50a. The length of the inclined portion of rope 13a along the centerline thereof equals reference dimension 51a, which is approximately the distance between the centers of pins 49a, 50a. The distance from transverse axis 45a to either pin 49a, 50a approximately equals one-half of dimension 51a. Pins 49a, 50a have respective rope seats 80, 81 for minimizing bearing pressures on rope 13a. Seats 80, 81 have respective grooves 83 (FIG. 12), which receive rope 13a. Seats 80, 81 are joumaled on their respective pins 49a, 50a for ease of selfalignment of seats 80, 81 with rope 13a.

Front face 48a has a handle 52a, a socket connection 53a for wrench 41a, and a mounting bar 54a for indicator 42a. Wrench 41a is identical to wrench 41 in construction. Wrench 41a has a longitudinal axis 59a, which moves relative to plate 40a through a torque angle 60a when torque 43a is applied thereto. Angle indicator 42a is also identical to angle indicator 42 in construction.

With the construction of tension gauge 19a, wrench axis 590 is disposed in a plane which substantially includes the centerline of hoist rope 13a (FIG. 11). Thus, the force applied to the handle of wrench 41a by the operator, which causes torque 43a, is applied in the plane which includes the rope centerline axis 44a and wrench axis 59a. Because of this, there is substantially no unwanted torque applied to plate 400, such as a torque applied normal to the plane which includes the rope centerline axis 44a and wrench axis 59a. In this way, any unwanted torque applied to plate handle 52a is minimized. Thus, the effort required by an operator to support plate handle 52a and to prevent any slight movement of plate 40a away from hoist rope 13a, is minimized.

Preferred embodiments have been described in detail and many modifications thereto may occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the particular embodiments which have been described be typical of all such modified embodiments. For example, torque dial 58 can have a separate rope tension scale, in addition to a torque scale, whereby rope tension force 20 can be read directly on dial 58 for a specific fixed value of rope displacement angle 46. As a second example, tension gauge 19 can also be used to measure a tension force in an inclined rope and to compare and equalize tension forces in a plurality of parallel inclined ropes.

What is claimed is:

l. A tension measuring gauge adapted for measuring the tension in a selected one of a plurality of steel wire-strand hoisting ropes having an elevator car suspended therefrom comprising, an elongated plate bearing member having a pair of bearing fixtures projecting outwardly from one face thereof at its opposite end sections and capable of engaging opposite sides of space displaced portions of said selected one of said ropes, a torque wrench connected to a face of said plate bearing member at a point intermediate said rope-engaging bearing fixtures and capable of applying a measured torque to said plate bearing member, an adjustable angle indicator mounted on said plate bearing member, said indicator comprising a stationary portion and a movable portion including a spirit level pivoted thereon and adjustable rotatably with respect thereto whereby to evaluate the angular position of the longitudinal axis of said plate bearing member with respect to a vertical axis of reference as indicated by said spirit level, wherein said plate bearing member has a Z-shaped cross-section and the connection of said torque wrench to this plate member is such that the longitudinal axis of said torque wrench is disposed in a plane which passes through said selected hoist rope substantially at the centerline thereof.

l I I I 

1. A tension measuring gauge adapted for measuring the tension in a selected one of a plurality of steel wire-strand hoisting ropes having an elevator car suspended therefrom comprising, an elongated plate bearing member having a pair of bearing fixtures projecting outwardly from one face thereof at its opposite end sections and capable of engaging opposite sides of space displaced portions of said selected one of said ropes, a torque wrench connected to a face of said plate bearing member at a point intermediate said rope-engaging bearing fixtures and capable of applying a measured torque to said plate bearing member, an adjustable angle indicator mounted on said plate bearing member, said indicator comprising a stationary portion and a movable portion including a spirit level pivoted thereon and adjustable rotatably with respect thereTo whereby to evaluate the angular position of the longitudinal axis of said plate bearing member with respect to a vertical axis of reference as indicated by said spirit level, wherein said plate bearing member has a Z-shaped cross-section and the connection of said torque wrench to this plate member is such that the longitudinal axis of said torque wrench is disposed in a plane which passes through said selected hoist rope substantially at the centerline thereof. 